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Pagan Christs: Studies in Comparative Hierology (Classic Reprint)
Pagan Christs Studies in Comparative Hierology - Classic Reprint Author:J. M. Robertson PAGAN CHRISTS ? PART I. rrHE RATIONALE OF RELIGION CJJAPTER I.-THE i'iATURALNESS OF ALL BELIEF § 1. IT seems probable, despite theological cavils, that Petronius was right in his signal saying, F'ear first made the Gods. In the words of a recent hierologist, H we may be sure that primitive man took to himself the credit of his successful attempt... more »s to work the mechanism of nature for his own advantage, but when the machinery did not work he ascribed the fault to some over-ruling snpernatural power . ... ... It was the violation of [previously exploited] sequences, and the frustration of his expectations by which the belief in supernatural power yas, not created, but first called forth."l rrhe fact that this writer proceeds to repudiate his own doctrine2 is no reason why we should, save to the extent of noting the temerity of his use of the term" supernatural." But in saying that fear first made the Gods, or made the first Gods, we imply that other God-making f
Table of Contents
CONTENTS; :d; PART I; THE RATIONALE OF RELIGION; CHAP I-THE NA'ŁURALNESS OF ALL BELIEF I'AOE; § 1 Origin of Gods from fear-from love-Beloved Gods the; Cb'ists of the world's pantheon-Arbitrary Classifications 1; § 2 All beliefs results of reasoning-Taboo-Formulas of Mr; Lang and 1Ir Jevons-··Primn,l'Y n,nd secondary taboo-; Moral correlations-Theory of religion and magic 3; § 3 Mr Jevons's theories of religious evolution-Contl'adictions; -'l'hesis of "superstition" ij; § 4 Scientific "iew of the "religious consciousness" -ioea of; "the supematurnl "-Fear 'veI'SILS gl'atitude-Rise of magic; -~Ieaning of "religion"; § 5 Mr Fl'azer's definition-its inadequacy-Conflict of for·; mulns-Antiquity of magic-Analogies of l'Cli"rion, magic; and science-:Jagic homogeneous with religion-Incom;is; tencies of magic-Mngic in the Old Testament-Inconsis·; t« less